"Do you want someone or do you need me?", the knock on the door startled Lia and she slammed the book shut, and in came Riccardo came in. "Daddy, you gave me a fright there?", she questioned ending with a nervous chuckle, Riccardo passed her a small smile and spoke "Little Lia, I want to ask you something", coming forward towards her bed where she sat crossed legged, nodding her head. "Dear, what will you do if I ask you to marry someone, you are a beautiful young lady and I have to be somewhere to look after things which might make you miss me", he ended with a small smile.
"Where are you going daddy?", curiosity brewing in her, she spoke chewing her lips in anticipation. "Nowhere dear, don't worry yourself, I'll be back soon. But will you do as I say?". For Lia, it wasn't new her father left her while Valente stayed behind to take care of her. But something didn't feel right this time. Her father never talked with her before leaving except by asking her to be on her best behavior. "But why marry daddy? I've been a good girl right? He won't take care of me like you and Valente do, what if he doesn't like me?", Lia spoke close to tears. "Oh! Dear, don't cry, he will take good care of you. And you do know him very well", Riccardo spoke worrying about his precious little girl.
"He won't dislike me right?", Lia asked her lips wobbling, "No dear, he won't he will love you", Riccardo spoke caressing her hair. It wasn't easy for him, nor for Lia but this was to be done. "Won't you ask his name?", Riccardo spoke still caressing her hair, to which she hummed. "It's Valente". All that could be heard was the ticking of the clock and the leaves rustling outside the windows. As if realization dawned upon Lia, she snapped her head toward her father, her eyes as big as saucers. Tears started forming in her eyes, "Valente", it might be a whisper but Riccardo could hear it very clearly. Pulling back, he smiled and wiped her tears, "Yes Lia, Valente", a pout formed on her face. And just like that, she burst into tears.
After a lot of consoling and chocolates, Lia finally settled down. Riccardo began, "Little Lia, it's necessary for me to leave and I want to leave you in responsible hands, please don't make me worry for you", ended the talk with a small peck on her forehead, and he left. Leaving a bewildered and sleepy Lia behind. Rubbing her eyes, she slept against the bed's headboard.
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Little Lia, woke up with a warm hand on her waist, she let out a squeak, which woke the person behind her, "Go back to sleep Lia, we still have time", Lia relaxed listening to the familiar voice but stiffened as soon as she realizes who that person was, red hue spreading on her neck and ears, it was Valente. She was getting married tomorrow!!! And Valente wasn't supposed to her here. Laying there for 5 more minutes, she threw sleep out of the window and realized she had to pay a visit to Mother Nature but when she tried to remove the big, heavy hand from her waist, she wasn't able to.
She poked Valente's cheek and arm but he didn't wake up, the idea of poking him felt weak. She huffed and tried to remove the hand draped on her waist, which was of no help but Valente, as it was not possible, pulled her closer and snuggled into her neck. "Val, I have to use the loo", Valente who heard it, made it look oblivious, not moving an inch. A few seconds later he huffed and dropped a sweet kiss on her forehead and removed his hand. Worrying he will capture her again, Lia shot towards the bathroom and slammed the door shut, putting a hand on her small thudding heart as if she ran a marathon.
"God, help my little self survive this man", Lia mumbled and went to take a bath. Dressing in a pale pink soft bathrobe, she moved towards her room, forgetting Valente was still out there. She stepped outside, not sparing a glance anywhere, walking towards her vanity and sitting before it. "Ooooo… pretty girl", Lia spoke cooing at herself, a small smile adorning her face, she applied the moisturizer on her hands and legs, a little butter to her lips all while humming the Mickey Mouse theme song. Valente who was still under the covers, watched his girl in amusement, walked towards her, and leaned towards her ear "Would you mind if I borrow some?", startled Lia gasped putting a hand over her heart and mumbling, "calm down heart, calm down", her eyes as wide as saucers.
"You scared me, Valente, don't sneak up on me like that, what if I die from a heart attack?", Lia spoke in a horrified tone, to which Valente laughed and picked her up as if she weighed nothing, spinning her around and settling her again, " I won't let anything happen to you, baby girl", Valente said kissing her forehead, all while Lia kept a hand on her forehead, hoping it'll stop spinning. Which didn't help, she suddenly realized they weren't supposed to meet each other until the wedding tomorrow. "Valente, you aren't supposed to be here, you know daddy will be angry", she exclaimed. "Of course, I do know that. I was just, perhaps missing you", he said twirling her damp hair in his finger, leaning down, he kissed her cheek when the door opened, and in came Riccardo with an angry look on his face.
"You, young man are coming with me, and I dare you to step foot inside this room before the wedding", Riccardo said pointing to Valente who had a horrified look on his face. If Valente was scared of one thing, that would be Riccardo's anger, he respected him as his father after all. Grabbing his ear and twisting it, Riccardo dragged Valente out of Lia's room who was watching the whole everything and laughing, quite a scene it was.